Condemnation, in the wake of death sentences handed out by an Egyptian court to more than 500 members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The court in Minya sentenced the defendants in absentia, for the killing of a police officer in last year's unrest, which was followed by a deadly crackdown on Brotherhood protesters.

The sentences sparked several days of student protests in universities around Cairo.

Gamal Eid of the Human Rights Information network, said the ruling speaks of the erosion of rights under the military-backed government that toppled Mohammed Mursi last year.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ARABIC NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS INFORMATION, GAMAL EID, SAYING:

"This is the strangest verdict in the history of Egypt and the world. No other similar verdict was produced under any regime no matter how oppressive they were. I believe the verdict represents a disaster. No matter how they attempt to rectify such a verdict, whether through appeals or re